The National Lottery Community Fund: Dormant Assets for All

Overview

Summary

Area - Northern Ireland

Suitable for - Voluntary or community organisations.

Funding size - £300 to £20,000. For up to 2 years.

Total available - £4 million

Application deadline - They expect to take applications until 2027.

This funding is for voluntary, community and social enterprise (VSCE) organisations in Northern Ireland. They want to help these organisations to be stronger and able to deal with future challenges.

The Dormant Assets for All funding, which has been raised from dormant UK bank and building society accounts, is being delivered by The National Lottery Community Fund with the Department of Finance.

What do they hope to fund

The work they fund must make your organisation more resilient and prepared for the future. You should do this by increasing the skills and capacity in your organisation.

They will only fund projects that will make your organisation stronger. They will not fund the delivery of an activity in your community. For example, to expand the activity into new areas.

You should focus on what will strengthen your organisation the most. For example, you could improve:

Confidence and skills in using digital technology

For example, you could:

• create a new digital strategy and the tools needed to do this
• provide training for staff and volunteers to improve digital skills
• use a consultant to review the challenges and opportunities your organisation has with digital
• create or improve your website or social media presence
• test new ways of working like using AI tools.

How you track and measure your impact

For example, you could:

• use or buy new digital tools or systems to measure and track impact
• provide training for staff and volunteers about how to measure the impact of their work.

Financial skills and management

For example, you could:

• use a consultant or professional to review how your organisation manages its finances
• explore opportunities to build unrestricted income

Governance and leadership skills

For example, you could:

• provide training, coaching or advice. This could be for things like strategic planning, safeguarding and leadership skills
• work with other organisations to use the same services or systems. Like sharing equipment, software or staff to help you save time and money.
• work to improve your policies and processes
• being better prepared for changes in leadership or key roles.

Volunteer recruitment and management.

For example, you could:

• strengthen how you recruit, manage and recognise your volunteers
• provide training and qualifications for your volunteers.

Who can apply

To apply you must be a constituted voluntary, community or social enterprise organisation.

You must also be a:

• unregistered voluntary or community organisation
  An organisation set up with a governing document - like a constitution. But is not a registered charity or company.
• not-for-profit company
  A company limited by guarantee - registered with Companies House. And might also be registered as a charity.
• registered charity (unincorporated)
  A voluntary or community organisation that's a registered charity. But is not a company registered with Companies House.
• Community Interest Company (CIC).
  A company registered with Companies House. And the Community Interest Company (CIC) Regulator.

You need at least 2 board or committee members who are not related

These 2 people cannot be related inclusive of related by marriage, in a civil partnership with each other, in a long-term relationship with each other, related through a long-term partner, living together at the same address, or related by blood. All companies who apply must have at least 2 directors who are not related in any of these ways. This also applies to companies that are also registered as charities.

You can apply if you’ve had other funding from them before

They’ll fund new projects or work that builds on a previous project, or an existing project.

Funding Level & Notes

They offer funding from £300 to £20,000. And can support your project for up to 2 years.

They want to spread the funding across Northern Ireland, and cover different areas and types of work. So they'll consider that when they make their decision. They'll prioritise projects from organisations that have:

• a low income
• not had funding from the Dormant Accounts Fund NI.

They can fund:

• equipment
• training costs
• volunteer expenses
• professional support (like using a consultant or freelancer)*

*Using a consultant or freelancer

A specialist consultant or freelancer can help bring new skills or experience to your organisation. They can fund you to work with a consultant if that’s what you need to reach your goals. They must help strengthen your organisation and help you deal with future challenges. If you plan to to use professional, detail this in your application. You can use some of your budget to carry out their suggestions. See Guidance for further details.

You cannot use their funding to pay a consultant for writing your application.